A systematic review of training for mainstream mental health professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs
| Date | 11 December 2024 |
| Pages | 36-48 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-06-2024-0020 |
| Published date | 11 December 2024 |
| Author | Emma Hunter,Jade Sunley,Shauni Richardson,Cahley Hemm,Dave Dagnan |
A systematic review of training for
mainstream mental health professionals
working with people with intellectual
disabilities and mental health needs
Emma Hunter, Jade Sunley, Shauni Richardson, Cahley Hemm and Dave Dagnan
Abstract
Purpose –Policy in the UK and many other countries states thatmainstream mental health services should
be accessible to people with intellectual disabil ities (ID). The purpose of this paper is to systematically review
training and development needs assessments and delivered training and development for professionals
working in mainstream mental health services who ma y work with people with IQ.
Design/methodology/approach –A systematic search of fourdatabases (Web of Science; PsychInfo;
PubMed; CINAHL) over the period of 2011–2023 was used. Papers were included if they described
training or developmentdelivered to, or specific training or developmentneeds analyses of, mainstream
qualifiedstaff to support working with adults who have an ID.
Findings –Two papers were found that described training and development initiatives and six that
described training and development needs analysis, fiveof these papers originated from Australia and
were partof the development of a comprehensiveworkforce competency framework.
Research limitations/implications –Training and development approaches for mainstream mental
healthservices to facilitate the support of people with IQ should be systematicallydeveloped and trialled.
Originality/value –To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to review training and
training needs analysisin this area since 2012. The review finds only a small number of papers in what is
an importantarea for service development.
Keywords Intellectual disabilities, Training, Systematic review, Mental health professionals,
Quality ratings, Training needs analysis
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities (ID) use mainstream health services is a policy
target in many countries (e.g. McConkey et al., 2020). In the UK, policy documents state that
people with ID should, where possible, use mainstream mental health services. The National
Service Framework for Mental Health (Department of Health and Social Care, 1999) emphasised
equality of access and associated service quality for people with disabilities and endorsed the
development of “[...]key skills and competencies required throughout mental health services to
ensure services are non-discriminatory, and sensitive to the needs of all service users and carers
regardless of age, gender, race, culture, religion, disability, or sexual orientation”. This was
reiterated in the Learning Disabilities Mental Health Outcomes Charter (NHS, 2013), which stated:
“It is imperative that people with learning disabilities who have mental health needs have the
same access to generic mental health services as the general population using reasonable
adjustments where needed.” There is some guidance for specific services such as NHS Talking
Emma Hunter, Jade Sunley,
Shauni Richardson and
Cahley Hemm are all based
at Cumbria,
Northumberland, Tyne and
Wear NHS Foundation
Trust, Newcastle upon
Tyne, UK. Dave Dagnan is
based at the Cumbria,
Northumberland, Tyne and
Wear NHS Foundation
Trust, Newcastle upon
Tyne, UK and University of
Cumbria, Carlisle, UK.
Received 20 June 2024
Revised 4 November 2024
Accepted 4 November 2024
PAGE 36 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES jVOL. 19 NO. 12025, pp. 36-48,©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-06-2024-0020
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